Fitzroy Doncaster premiership quick Andrew Perrin joins Tasmania on state cricket contract
FITZROY Doncaster premiership quick Andrew Perrin has earned a state cricket contract.
East
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FITZROY Doncaster spearhead Andrew Perrin has won reward for stellar Premier Cricket form with a two-year state contract.
The 25-year-old premiership quick is joining Tasmania on the back of a brilliant campaign which netted 50 wickets at 10.62
Perrin, who is a painter, will make the move to Hobart with girlfriend Rachel.
Lions coach Mick O’Sullivan said Perrin, who on Friday night was named in the Premier team of the year, richly deserved his opportunity.
“We’re proud we’ve been able to create an environment where Andrew’s been able to blossom into the player he can be and that made people look up and say `Gee he can play at the next level’,’’ he said.
“We know that, our club and our players know that and what’s great now is Andrew is starting to realise the gift he has got and his skill set. He’s a great athlete and it’s a matter now of getting a bit more strength in his body now and training in a full time environment which will be fantastic for him.”
Perrin battled side and back niggles during the home-and-away season but returned in the final round then snared 12 wickets in three finals including 7/71 in a semi-final victory over Prahran.
“It’s just unlucky he got that side injury in December,’’ O’Sullivan said.
“Considering he’s taken 50 wickets and he really hasn’t bowled much since early December, long spells or more than 10 in a day until the finals series, it’s been an extraordinary performance. Who knows, to me if he was fully fit he would’ve taken 70 wickets.
“When he did play he bowled only 10 or 11 overs and as I said to the players it was herculean his finals series effort, it showed he’s ready to be given a spot in a state squad to progress into a First Class player. It’s just a shame he can’t show his wares in Victoria where he’s born and bred and learned his trade.”
Perrin joins a string of former Premier cricketers and Victorian bowlers who have found a cricket home at the Tigers including Andrew Fekete, Evan Gulbis and Ryder Medallist Clive Rose.
He will be reunited with former Casey-South Melbourne team mate Damien Wright who is Tasmania’s assistant coach.
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